Lindsey Vonn Is The Betting Favorite In Alpine Women's Downhill

Sports News - February 17th, 2010 - Written By Bryan Cross

Lindsey Vonn prepares to make her anticipated appearance at the 2010 Olympic games in Vancouver. The wait is almost over. The rumors and questions about the injury she suffered to her shin in a practice run will be put to rest.

"I'm definitely getting antsy," Vonn said.

She was the fortunate recipient of bad weather, which caused a delay in the first Alpine skiing event she is to compete. The extra couple of days to rest helped. She is the current world champion in several of her five events she will run at these games. Vonn is the top American woman skier, and is considered a favorite to collect multiple medals, including gold in the women's downhill.

"She certainly feels that she has a chance to win the downhill," Thomas Vonn, her husband said to he Associated Press. "She feels like, although it's going to be extremely painful in the run, that she can still fight through it and put down some of her best skiing."

Vonn will race in the 16th slot to begin her quest in Vancouver. She will contend against Maria Riesch of Germany, Anja Paerson of Sweden and Emily Brydon of Canada. All are considered favorites to contend for a medal in the downhill.

"Lindsey is the fastest skier out there," remarked Patrick Riml, who is Canada's women's Alpine coach, "and the goal is to beat her."

Riml is very familiar with the American skier, as he is the former coach of the United States team. Despite the attention in the media that Vonn's injury received, her competition knows she will be difficult to beat

"She's skiing," Paerson remarked, "and that makes me know that she's in good shape."

Vonn elected to refrain from practicing the day before her first event, in order to give her adequate rest to nurse her leg. She held the fastest time in the training session, but disclosed that her leg was hurting her following the run.

"It was definitely sore today, much more sore than it had been in a couple days," her husband said. "The full-length downhill run yesterday definitely took its toll."

Despite the pain, Lindsey Vonn knows that she is capable of producing the speed and durability necessary to be competitive in the event.

I was able to ski the way I wanted to," she remarked. "It was really painful, but I made it down, and I guess that was a real positive step."

Vonn is the favorite to take home the gold medal for the United States in the downhill event. She currently is installed as a 1/1 favorite to win according to the Olympic Betting Lines at Bodog sportsbook.

Coverage of the Women's downhill can be seen live Wednesday night during NBC's coverage, beginning at 8 pm Est.